UNHCR: Administrative Expenditure

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What amounts were paid by the United Nations to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees to cover administrative expenditure in the last three years for which accounts are available.

Baroness Amos: We understand that, over the last three years (1998-2000), UNHCR received a total of US$66,918,423 from the Regular Budget of the United Nations to cover the cost of some 220 administrative posts. This was broken down as follows:
	1998: US$23,304,500
	1999: US$23,259,223
	2000: US$20,354,700

Sudan

Lord Ahmed: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What plans they have to increase funding for English language learning projects in Sudan.

Baroness Amos: There are no English language learning projects in Sudan funded by Her Majesty's Government. We provide assistance for humanitarian emergencies through the United Nations and international non-governmental organisations and will continue to do so.

Mr Mohamed Omer Haji

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether, on humanitarian grounds, they are taking up with the government of Yemen the case of Mr Mohamed Omer Haji, a Somali refugee, facing possible execution for apostasy from Islam.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Our Ambassador in Sana'a raised the case of Mohamed Omer Haji with the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abdullah al-Sayedi on 9 July and made clear our concerns. We understand that Mohamed Omer Haji has not yet been sentenced. The court in Aden convened on 12 July and was immediately adjourned. The next hearing is due to take place on 19 July. We will continue to monitor the case and stand ready to raise the matter again with the Yemeni Government.

Belize: Border Dispute

Lord Ahmed: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What representations they have received about the Belize-Guatemala border dispute.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The Prime Minister of Belize raised the dispute during his visit to the UK on 13-18 June. He met my right honourable friends the Prime Minister, the Foreign Secretary, the Development Secretary and my honourable friends Mr Battle, Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister of State, and Mr Spellar, Armed Forces Minister.
	As all Ministers he met made clear, the UK fully supports Belize's sovereignty and territorial integrity. We welcome the talks currently taking place between Belize and Guatemala under the auspices of the Organisation of American States. We also welcome the meeting that took place on 7 July between the Guatemalan and Belizian military, and hope that this signals the full resumption of peaceful military to military contacts, and a positive dialogue to resolve this dispute.

Afghanistan: Export of Demining Equipment

Lord Dubs: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have issued an export licence for mine-clearance equipment to Afghanistan.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Following consultations with this department and the Ministry of Defence, the Department of Trade and Industry recently issued a licence for the export of mine clearance equipment for the use by the HALO Trust to aid their demining activities in Afghanistan. This licence was granted for humanitarian purposes. This decision does not affect the Government's continued support for the EU Common Position on arms exports to Afghanistan.

British Indian Ocean Territory

Lord Dubs: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is their current policy towards the British Indian Ocean Territory.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The territory's immigration laws and policy are currently the subject of an action in the High Court. We are aware that some of the Ilois community have expressed an interest in returning to settle on the outer islands of the archipelago. We have been studying the feasibility of settlement on the outer islands, which have been uninhabited for 30 years, and the potential environmental impact. This work is not complete and we will continue it.
	Recently we have sponsored a group of Ilois to visit the outer islands to see conditions there for themselves.
	We shall maintain our sovereignty over the BIOT as for as long as our treaty obligations require it. Thereafter, we stand by the undertaking we have made that we would cede sovereignty of the territory to Mauritius.

Merrywood School, Bristol

Lord Cocks of Hartcliffe: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What was the date when the Secretary of State for Education made the decision to close Merrywood School, Knowle West, Bristol.

Baroness Blackstone: My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Education and Employment reached his decision on Bristol's proposals to close Merrywood School on 10 April 2000.

Merrywood School, Bristol

Lord Cocks of Hartcliffe: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the closure of Merrywood School, Knowle West, Bristol will help to reduce the number of accidents to children travelling to and from school.

Baroness Blackstone: In reaching his decision on the proposals to close Merrywood School, my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Education and Employment fully considered all the information available to him. The safety of routes to alternative schools was not raised as an issue by objectors to the proposals. Funding is, however, to be made available to improve vehicular access to one of the receiving schools: Hengrove Secondary. Bristol Local Education Authority's transport policy will apply.

Merrywood School, Bristol

Lord Cocks of Hartcliffe: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What discussions they have had concerning the playing fields of Merrywood School, Knowle West, Bristol.

Baroness Blackstone: I am not aware of any discussions having taken place regarding Merrywood's playing fields. As the noble Lord is aware, the Government are committed to preventing the indiscriminate disposal of school playing fields and want to ensure that playing fields needed by schools and local communities are retained. To this end, the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 requires local authorities to obtain the written consent of the Secretary of State before disposing, or changing the use, of any playing field that has been used by a maintained school in the past 10 years. I can confirm that no application has been received from Bristol to dispose, or change the use, of the playing fields at the Merrywood School.

Non-food Crops: Consultation

Lord Elder: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What was the response to the consultation on non-food crops launched by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on 7 April.

Baroness Hayman: Thirty-seven replies were received to this consultation, and we have arranged for copies to be placed in the Libraries of the House, and also to be made available for public inspection in the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food's library at Whitehall Place, The proposal for a government-industry forum on non-food crops was widely welcomed. The Government are now studying the responses in detail and considering how to put the proposals into effect.

Pesticides Safety Directorate: Annual Report

Lord Elder: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they will publish the 1999-2000 annual report for the Pesticides Safety Directorate.

Baroness Hayman: The 1999-2000 annual report and accounts for the Pesticides Safety Directorate were laid before Parliament today. Copies are available in the Library of the House.

Defence Evaluation and Research Agency: Key Targets

Lord Gordon of Strathblane: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What key targets have been set for the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency for the financial year 2000-2001.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: Key targets set for the Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency for the financial year 2000-2001 are set out as follows. Key Target 1 Consistent with Treasury requirements, to achieve at least a 6 per cent return on capital employed. Key Target 2 To increase new business income (from customers other than the UK MoD) from £137 million forecast to be achieved in 1999-2000 to £165 million. Key Target 3 To increase the number of staff elected as fellows of professional bodies by 5 per cent from a baseline at 31 March 2000. Key Target 4 To achieve on time 90 per cent of the agreed milestones on work for MoD customers. Key Target 5 To maintain the level of MoD customer satisfaction as measured by core questions. Key Target 6 Over a period of three years (1998-1999 to 2000-2001), to achieve a 20 per cent increase in peer reviewed publications per professional. For 2000-2001, this translates into achieving a figure of 7.1 publications per 100 professionals from a baseline at 1 April 2000 of 6.3. Key Target 7 Over a three-year period from 1998-1999 to 2000-2001), to increase by 50 per cent the number of scientific teams assessed as "world-class" in the technical assessment exercise. For 2000-2001, this translates into achieving 24 from a current baseline at 1 April 2000 of 19.

Armed Forces: Manpower Figures

Lord Hughes of Woodside: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What changes they intend to make in the presentation of information on the strength of the Armed Forces.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: In order to provide a more accurate and relevant picture of the overall full-time manpower available to the Armed Forces, we plan to include in the definition of the strength of the Services all full-time personnel, including Full-Time Reserve Service personnel and, in the case of the Army, Gurkhas. In view of their discrete and specialised task in a particular location, the Royal Irish (Home Service) will be reported separately. This change will take effect from September 2000.
	The inclusion of Full-Time Reserve Service personnel is in line with our aim to make reserve forces more relevant and usable and is a natural consequence of the Reserve Forces Act 1996, which provides for the employment of reservists in place of full-time regular personnel.

Millennium Dome: Mr Ben Evans

The Earl of Shrewsbury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What role Mr Ben Evans played in the planning and development of the Dome exhibits; and whether he was responsible for key decisions on content.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: Ben Evans was one of a number of content editors drawn from a range of backgrounds and experiences, including live events and design companies.
	The content editors work closely with the designers of the zones and each zone's designated "Godparent". The "Godparents" were drawn from specialist fields and were able to apply their knowledge and experience of the issues addressed in each zone. Each "Godparent" held regular meetings and reviews with the design teams working on his or her zone.
	Each of the zone designs was put before the Creative Review Group, often referred to as the "Litmus Group". The group reviewed the development of the exhibitions and attractions inside the Dome. Each member of the Litmus Group has experience and expertise in a particular field of entertainment, art and design, visitor attractions, broadcasting and education. The group met regularly to advise NMEC on the coherence, quality, entertainment and educational potential of design proposals.

NMEC: Replacement of Chairman

Baroness Blatch: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Minister of State at the Cabinet Office on 23 June (WA 49), whether the sole shareholder of the New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) will now answer the question whether he was involved in any discussions about the replacement of Mr Bob Ayling as chairman of the NMEC, prior to Mr Ayling informing him on his decision to resign.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The appointment of Chairman to the New Millennium Experience Company is the collective responsibility of the board. Following the Millennium Commission meeting on 22 May, the Chairman informed me that a number of conditions had been set in agreeing to provide further grant to NMEC. One of those conditions was the replacement of Mr Ayling as Chairman of NMEC. Irrespective of that condition, Mr Ayling decided to resign. I discussed Mr Ayling's decision, and the subsequent decision by the board to appoint David Quarmby as its new chairman, with a number of board members during the course of 23 May.

NMEC: Replacement of Chairman

Baroness Blatch: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Minister of State at the Cabinet Office on 23 June (WA 49), whether the sole shareholder of the New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) discussed with any person other than Mr David Quarmby the idea of his or her succeeding Mr Bob Ayling as chairman of the NMEC.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The responsibility for appointing the chairman of the New Millennium Experience Company rests with the board. On 23 May, Robert Ayling resigned and later that day the board appointed David Quarmby as the new chairman. The board kept me informed of its deliberations on this matter throughout the day.

NMEC: Weekly Trading Performance Reports

Baroness Blatch: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Minister of State at the Cabinet Office on 23 June (WA 48), whether the sole shareholder of the New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) will agree to the publication of the weekly reports he receives on the trading performance of the NMEC.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The weekly reports on the trading performance of the New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) are internal management documents. Visitor figures from these reports are posted on the Dome website (www.dome2000.co.uk) monthly.

Smoking in Government Buildings

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is their policy concerning smoking in government buildings.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: Responsibility for policy concerning smoking in government buildings is delegated to departments. In my department we operate a no smoking policy in all our buildings. Smoking is permitted in designated areas only.

Special Advisers

Lord Campbell of Croy: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many special advisers work for:
	(a) Ministers in the United Kingdom Government;
	(b) Ministers in the Scottish Executive;
	(c) Assembly Secretaries in Wales; and
	(d) Ministers in the Northern Ireland Executive.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: On 17 July, there were a total of 78 special advisers working for Ministers in the United Kingdom Government; nine special advisers working for Ministers in the Scottish Executive; and one special adviser working for Assembly Secretaries in Wales.
	I am informed that on the same date there were 11 special advisers working for Ministers in the Northern Ireland Executive. These special advisers are members of the Northern Ireland Civil Service and Ministers in the devolved administration are accountable for the appointments.

Departmental Publications: Grammar and Punctuation

Lord Monson: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord Falconer of Thoroton on 23 June (WA 48), whether they will draw the attention of the Cabinet Office Women's Unit and the Home Office to his statement that material sent out by government departments should be free from errors of grammar and punctuation and should be of the highest quality.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: This has already been done.

Finance Bill: Human Rights Act 1998 Compatibility

Baroness Goudie: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether a statement has been made under the Human Rights Act 1998 in connection with the Finance Bill.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: I have made a statement under Section 19(1)(a) of the Human Rights Act 1998 that, in my view, the provisions of the Finance Bill are compatible with the convention rights.

Countryside Agency

Lord Palmer: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the role of the Countryside Agency as distinct from other government agencies; and
	How much it costs annually to fund the Countryside Agency.

Lord Whitty: The Countryside Agency is the Government's principal adviser on rural areas in England. It works to conserve and enhance the countryside; to promote social equity for the people who live there and to help everyone, wherever they live, to enjoy this national asset. In 2000-01 the agency will receive a grant-in-aid from my department of £55.3 million. This is an increase of over £6 million compared with last year, reflecting our wish that the agency should increase its spend on Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, access to the countryside and a number of other initiatives.

Wind Farms: Bird Deaths

Lord Hoyle: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What numbers and species of birds have been reported to have been killed by wind farms in 1997, 1998 and 1999.

Lord Whitty: This department does not have statistics for bird fatalities from wind farms and can therefore offer no figures for the numbers killed in 1997, 1998 and 1999.
	I do however recognise that wind farms can have an impact on birds through direct loss of habitat, disturbance resulting in effective habitat loss or degradation and increased mortality caused by birds colliding with moving turbine rotors, towers and associated structures.
	Existing research indicates that each wind farm is unique in the way the environmental and engineering factors interact with the bird species present and that different species vary in their vulnerability to disturbance. It is therefore not possible to make general predictions about the impact of proposed wind farm developments. Each needs to be assessed on a case-by-case basis.